By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the
laws of the United States of America, including section 2656 of title
22, United States Code, and section 3161 of title 5, United States Code,
it is hereby ordered as follows:Section 1. Policy. The United States is committed to actively
countering the actions and ideologies of al-Qa'ida, its affiliates and
adherents, other terrorist organizations, and violent extremists
overseas that threaten the interests and national security of the United
States. These efforts take many forms, but all contain a communications
element and some use of communications strategies directed to audiences
outside the United States to counter the ideology and activities of
such organizations. These communications strategies focus not only on
the violent actions and human costs of terrorism, but also on narratives
that can positively influence those who may be susceptible to
radicalization and recruitment by terrorist organizations.
The purpose of this Executive Order is to reinforce, integrate, and
complement public communications efforts across the executive branch
that are (1) focused on countering the actions and ideology of
al-Qa'ida, its affiliates and adherents, and other international
terrorist organizations and violent extremists overseas, and (2)
directed to audiences outside the United States. This collaborative work
among executive departments and agencies (agencies) brings together
expertise, capabilities, and resources to realize efficiencies and
better coordination of U.S. Government communications investments to
combat terrorism and extremism.Sec. 2. Assigned Responsibilities to the Center for Strategic Counterterrorism Communications.
(a) Under the direction of the Secretary of State (Secretary), the
Center for Strategic Counterterrorism Communications (Center) that has
been established in the Department of State by the Secretary shall
coordinate, orient, and inform Government-wide public communications
activities directed at audiences abroad and targeted against violent
extremists and terrorist organizations, especially al-Qa'ida and its
affiliates and adherents, with the goal of using communication tools to
reduce radicalization by terrorists and extremist violence and terrorism
that threaten the interests and national security of the United States.
Consistent with section 404o of title 50, United States Code, the
Center shall coordinate its analysis, evaluation, and planning functions
with the National Counterterrorism Center. The Center shall also
coordinate these functions with other agencies, as appropriate.
Executive branch efforts undertaken through the Center shall draw on
all agencies with relevant information or capabilities, to prepare,
plan for, and conduct these communications efforts.
(b) To achieve these objectives, the Center's functions shall include:

(i) monitoring and evaluating narratives (overarching communication
themes that reflect a community's identity, experiences, aspirations,
and concerns) and events abroad that are relevant to the development of a
U.S. strategic counterterrorism narrative designed to counter violent
extremism and terrorism that threaten the interests and national
security of the United States;

(ii) developing and promulgating for use throughout the executive
branch the U.S. strategic counterterrorism narratives and public
communications strategies to counter the messaging of violent extremists
and terrorist organizations, especially al-Qa'ida and its affiliates
and adherents;

(iii) identifying current and emerging trends in extremist
communications and communications by al-Qa'ida and its affiliates and
adherents in order to coordinate and provide thematic guidance to U.S.
Government communicators on how best to proactively promote the U.S.
strategic counterterrorism narrative and policies and to respond to and
rebut extremist messaging and narratives when communicating to audiences
outside the United States, as informed by a wide variety of Government
and non-government sources, including nongovernmental organizations,
academic sources, and finished intelligence created by the intelligence
community;

(iv) facilitating the use of a wide range of communications
technologies, including digital tools, by sharing expertise among
agencies, seeking expertise from external sources, and extending best
practices;

(v) identifying and requesting relevant information from agencies, including intelligence reporting, data, and analysis; and

(vi) identifying shortfalls in U.S. capabilities in any areas relevant
to the Center's mission and recommending necessary enhancements or
changes.

(c) The Secretary shall establish a Steering Committee composed of
senior representatives of agencies relevant to the Center's mission to
provide advice to the Secretary on the operations and strategic
orientation of the Center and to ensure adequate support for the Center.
The Steering Committee shall meet not less than every 6 months. The
Steering Committee shall be chaired by the Under Secretary of State for
Public Diplomacy. The Coordinator for Counterterrorism of the Department
of State shall serve as Vice Chair. The Coordinator of the Center shall
serve as Executive Secretary. The Steering Committee shall include one
senior representative designated by the head of each of the following
agencies: the Department of Defense, the Department of Justice, the
Department of Homeland Security, the Department of the Treasury, the
National Counterterrorism Center, the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the
Counterterrorism Center of the Central Intelligence Agency, the
Broadcast Board of Governors, and the Agency for International
Development. Other agencies may be invited to participate in the
Steering Committee at the discretion of the Chair.Sec. 3. Establishment of a Temporary Organization.
(a) There is established within the Department of State, in accordance
with section 3161 of title 5, United States Code, a temporary
organization to be known as the Counterterrorism Communications Support
Office (CCSO).
(b) The purpose of the CCSO shall be to perform the specific project of
supporting agencies in Government-wide public communications activities
targeted against violent extremism and terrorist organizations,
especially al-Qa'ida and its affiliates and adherents, to audiences
abroad by using communication tools designed to counter violent
extremism and terrorism that threaten the interests and national
security of the United States.
(c) In carrying out its purpose set forth in subsection (b) of this section, the CCSO shall:

(i) support agencies in their implementation of whole-of-government
public communications activities directed at audiences abroad, including
by providing baseline research on characteristics of these audiences,
by developing expertise and studies on aspirations, narratives,
information strategies and tactics of violent extremists and terrorist
organizations overseas, by designing and developing sustained campaigns
on specific areas of interest to audiences abroad, and by developing
expertise on implementing highly focused social media campaigns; and

(ii) perform such other functions related to the specific project set
forth in subsection (b) of this section as the Secretary may assign.

(d) The CCSO shall be headed by a Director selected by the Secretary,
with the advice of the Steering Committee. Its staff may include, as
determined by the Secretary: (1) personnel with relevant expertise
detailed on a non-reimbursable basis from other agencies; (2) senior and
other technical advisers; and (3) such other personnel as the Secretary
may direct to support the CCSO. To accomplish this mission, the heads
of agencies participating on the Steering Committee shall provide to the
CCSO, on a non-reimbursable basis, assistance, services, and other
support including but not limited to logistical and administrative
support and details of personnel. Non-reimbursable details shall be
based on reasonable requests from the Secretary in light of the need for
specific expertise, and after consultation with the relevant agency, to
the extent permitted by law.
(e) The CCSO shall terminate at the end of the maximum period permitted
by section 3161(a)(1) of title 5, United States Code, unless sooner
terminated by the Secretary consistent with section 3161(a)(2) of such
title.Sec. 4. General Provisions.
(a) Nothing in this order shall be construed to impair or otherwise affect:

(i) authority granted by law to an agency, or the head thereof; or

(ii) functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget
relating to budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals.

(b) This order shall be implemented consistent with applicable law and subject to the availability of appropriations.
(c) This order is not intended to, and does not, create any right or
benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by
any party against the United States, its departments, agencies, or
entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any other person.